Moisture-absorbing device for stoppered containing vessels



July 31, 192s. 1,618,939- E. L. FURBER MOISTURE ABSORBING DEVICE FOR STOPPERED GONTAINNG VESSELS Filed Dec. 27, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /vvENTofZ; l Ema LFuRF-z sway July 31, 1928.

E. L. FURBER MOISTURE ABsoRBING DEVICE Fon s'roPPERED CONTAINING vEssELs Filed bec. 27, 192s 2 sheets-sheet Patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,678,939 PATENT OFFICE.

ERIC L. FURBER, OF LIVERPOL, ENGLAND'.

MOISTURE-AB'SORBING DEVICE FOR STOPPERED CONTAINING VESSELS.

Application filed December 27, 1923, Serial No. 683,008, and in Great Britain December 2'?,y 1922.

This invention relates to moisture absorbing devices for stoppered containing vessels, of that type in Which the moisture absorbing subst-ance is located in the interior of the stopper of the vessel and is detachably held in position therein by a device fitted With springs adapte-d to grip the Wall of the stopper.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which:-

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show thearrangement wheny the moisture absorbing substance is contained in a fabric bag, Fig.` 1 being an elevation partly in medial transverse section, Fig. 2 an elevation of the` retaining plate with its spring gripping means held inthe retracted position; and Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View, of the retaining plate and its spring grippingv means'.y

Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification in which the spring grips areformed integral With the rim of the retaining plate, Fig. 11 being an elevation in transverse section, and Fig. 51a plan View in section on the-line V. V., of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a further modification, Fig. 6 being an elevation in transverse section, and Fig. 7 a plan vievv.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show the preferred construction of the receptacle for containing the hygroscopic or dryingmateriai, Fig. 8 being an inverted plan View, Fig. 9 a transverse section, and Fig. 10 an arrangement showing the three component parts of the receptacle in the order of assembly.

Figs. 11 to' 16 show a modification of the appliance in which the spring grip is detachable from the retaining plate and in which the latter is adapted to retain the receptacle for the hygroscopic material, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. t

Fig. 11 is a general arrangement in part transverse section, Fig. 1Q a plan view of the retaining plate, 13 an elevation on a plane normalV to the hinge line of the retaining plate With the receptacle containing the powder in position therein; Fig. 14C an elevation of the retaining plate on a plane parallel to the hinge line; Fig. 15 shovvs a detail of the hinge part, and Fig. 16 is a partial transverse section to a larger scale.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3:-q

A is the stopper of the containing vessel to be fitted with the moisture absorbing de vice, a1 is the recess formed in the underside of the stopper; B is the perforated retaining .grasped between the finger and thumb when theplate B has to be inserte-d or removed.

'Ihe spring ring is preferably composed of steel Wire, and to give it increased gripping properties the Wire is sheathed With a rubber tube or the like sheath b4.r I

The absorbent pad C lis preferably made in the form of a bag composed of a material sufficiently porous to permit access of the air to any suitable deliquescent or hygroscopic substance D contained in the bag but sufliciently eloserin texture to prevent the escape L of the substance. The deliquescent or hygroscopie material contained in the bag may be a mixture of about* one third calcium chloride to tvvo thirds lreiselguhr. n

Figa/1 to 7 show modifications in the construction of retaining kplates and spring gripping means vvhichmay be used in place of and in the same manner as the retaining plate B of Figs. 1 to 3. y

In Figs L and 5 the: periphery b5 ofthe retaining plate B1 is turned up as at 010 and is slit so' as to yform a series of circumferential- 1y arranged spring bands b` which engage with the interior surface of the recess in' the stopper.v In this case the plate B1 is perforated asat b and is provided with a knob bl by Which it may be Withdrawn.

In Figs. 6 and 7 theturned up portions b5 of the retaining plate B2 are, cut through at 58 and are partially severed Vas at b9 from the edge of the plate B2 sol as to form spring bands adapted to engagewith the interior surface of the recess in the stopper.

Referring' now to Figs. 8 to 10 which show the preferred mode of constructing the container for the hygroscopic substance.

E is a boX, which may be of the usual metal construction; e1 is a bezel adapted to fit the mouth of the boX. in effect it forms a lid With the central part of the body cut away as at e2. The boX is partly filled with a hygroscopic substance I); a strip of porous fabric F such as linen cotton or the like is then stretched across the mouth yof the box E, @ses Figi 10), after which the bezel is fitted so as to grip the fabric between the outside of the box and the inside of the bezel whereby the fabric is stretched across themouth of the box as shown in Fig. 9 and is retained in position forming a porous wall of the box. The containerl It] may be used instead of the bag C with the modifications of the retaining plate shown in Figs. l to 7.

Figs. 'll to 16 show a modification in which the spring gripping means G are de-` tachably secured to the bezel el of the box E which bezel thus forms the perforated retaining plate for the container carrying the hygroscopic substance.

rlhe box E, bezel e1 and fabric F are as vdescribed in connection with Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The wire hoop G is constructed as described in reference to Figs. 1V to 3; that is to say the ends g1 are turned over to form grips and the wire hoop is sheathed with rubber or the like frictionally gripping material g2. The bezel el is provided with a hinge plate e:5 `into the hooked part et of which the centre g3 of the length of the wire Gr may be entered and by which it is clipped so as to form a detachable connection to the bezel el.

Fig. ll shows the general arrangement; Fig. l2 is an inverted plan view with the spring grip spread;rFigs. 13 and 14 are corresponding elevations and show the box, the bezel and the spring grip with the latter expanded; Fig. 15 shows the spring grip detached; and Fig. 16 shows to a larger scale how the fabric is held in position between the box and the bezel and shows the mode in which the wire G' is clipped in the hinge Having now fully described my invention, I declare that what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is zl. In a moisture absorbing device for containing vessels, in combination;a stopper having in its under side a recess with cylindrical walls; a perforated retaining plate; spring gripping means consisting of an open ended spring hoop of radius greater than that of the cylindrical wall of the recess,

"attached at a point intermediate its ends tothe retaining plate and adapted when the retaining plate is inserted in the recess to follow the contour of and frictionally grip the wall of' the recess; a container having a porous wall and adapted to be supported by the retaining plate in the recess; and a hygroscopic substance in the said container.

2. In a moisture absorbing device for containing vessels, in combination ;-a stopper having in its under side a recess with cylindrical Walls; a perforated retaining plate; spring gripping means consisting of an open ended spring hoop of radius greater than that of the cylindrical wall of the recess; attached at a point intern'iediate its ends to the retaining plate and adapted when theretaining plate is inserted in the recess to follow the contour of the wall of recess; a sheathing on the spring hoop of material adapted frictionally to grip the said wall; a container having a porous wall and adapted to be supported by the retaining plate in the recess; and a hygroscopic substance in the said container.

3. In a moisture absorbing devicev for containing vessels, in combination;a stopper having a recess in its under side; a perforated retaining plate; spring gripping means consisting of an open ended spring hoop attached at a point intermediate its ends to the retaining plate; a sheathing on the spring hoop of frictionally gripping material; a container comprising a boxfitted with a bezel and adapted to be supported by the retaining plate; a porous material stretched` across the mouth of the box between the box and the bezel and a hygroscopic substance within the box.

4. Ina moisture absorbing device for containing vessels, in combinatioma stopper having a recess in its under side; a perforated retaining plate; a container comprising a box provided with a bezel forming a perforated `retaining plate; a porous fabric stretched across the mouth of the vessel between the said mouth and they bezel; a hygroscopic substance within the box; spring gripping means attached to the said bezelshaped retaining plate consisting of an open hoop attached 'at a point intermediate its length to the said plate; and a sheathing on the spring hoop of a material adapted to frietionally grip the wall of the recess of the stopper.

In Witness whereof I set my hand. 

